Shingles Vaccine: What Seniors in Zanesville Should Know

Nestled along the shores of the Muskingum River is Zanesville, the historic, charming city serving as the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio. With its ideal location (some 50 miles from Columbus), beauty, affordable living costs, and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, it's become an attractive spot for retirees. Indeed, Census Reporter shows that as of the 2023 American Community Survey, 18% of the city's population of 24,726 were adults 65+.

As more Zanesville residents grow older, though, the likelihood of area seniors developing shingles may also increase.

Fortunately, the shingles vaccine can help prevent this infectious disease or its severity.

To that end, the team at Clay Gardens Place Assisted Living, our Zanesville retirement village, put together this shingles prevention guide. Read on to learn more about the adult vaccines OH seniors can get to protect themselves from this disease and other practical aging health tips.

What Is the Shingles Vaccine?

The shingles vaccine protects against the pathogen (disease-causing microorganism) known as the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV causes shingles (also called herpes zoster). It's also the virus that causes chickenpox.

According to the U.S. CDC, the recommended shingles vaccine for adults 50+ is recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV). RZV, marketed and sold under the brand "Shingrix," is a 2-dose vaccine that can help prevent the infectious disease and its complications.

How Do the Senior Immunizations for Shingles Work?

As a recombinant vaccine, Shingrix contains a specific protein derived from VZV. It also has an adjuvant, a substance that helps enhance the immune system's response to the vaccine.

Together, the components of Shingrix stimulate a person's immune system. The stimulation causes the production of immune cells and antibodies that work to fight off VZV.

Why Should Seniors Consider Getting Vaccinated for Shingles?

A good enough reason is that shingles, on its own, is painful. It causes a rash that may feel like it's:

Burning
Itching
Tingling

The rash develops into fluid-filled blisters, often accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, headaches, and fatigue. In some people, the symptoms can occur before the rash.

Shingles only affects people who've had chickenpox, but because many Americans have had it, the population at risk is still high. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, over 99% of people born before 1980 had chickenpox, and an average of 4 million individuals developed it yearly until the 1990s. It only became less common when the chickenpox vaccine became available in 1995.

Another good reason seniors in Zanesville, OH, should consider getting shingles shots is to protect themselves from the viral infection's complications. Some examples of complications from shingles include the following.

Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

PHN is the most common complication of shingles. It's a form of nerve pain that can affect the area where the initial shingles rash formed.

Cleveland Clinic says that PHN affects around 10% to 18% of people who develop shingles. For some, the pain improves and goes away after one to three months, but for others, it persists for a year or more.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Also referred to as herpes zoster oticus, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a neurological condition that stems from VZV. It can cause a painful rash in the ear or the area around it, facial paralysis, and hearing loss in seniors affected by the virus.

Vision Problems

Shingles can also affect the eye area. It can cause the condition known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus or ocular shingles. Developing this complication can result in impaired senior vision health or even blindness.

Pneumonia

Zanesville seniors should consider getting the shingles vaccine to reduce their risk of developing infections like pneumonia. Shingles can cause pneumonia as a complication.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs of the lungs, known as alveoli, to become swollen and filled with fluids or pus. When this happens, breathing difficulty may occur. The cells can also sustain damage due to the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange processes in the lungs getting disrupted.

According to the American Lung Association, pneumonia is behind an estimated 40,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. Many of these occur within the senior population.

Encephalitis

Encephalitis is another infection that can stem from shingles as a complication. It's an inflammation of the brain. Although it's relatively rare, it can still be deadly, especially to older adults with weakened immune systems.

Is There Anything Else Zanesville Seniors Can Do to Lower Their Risk?

Yes!

Aside from getting vaccinated, seniors should also practice proper hygiene habits, including frequently washing their hands and showering. Both can help minimize the spread of many disease-causing microorganisms, including VZV. Regularly cleaning and sanitizing one's home, especially high-touch surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, tables, and light switches), can also lower the probability of virus transmission.

Another strategy to help combat VZV, shingles, and complications is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, which can support better immunity. The stronger the immune system of older adults, the better it can fight off germs and prevent VZV from reactivating and causing shingles.

Engaging in regular physical wellness activities is an example of a healthy lifestyle habit. Done regularly, moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking and riding a bicycle on ground level, can help promote a stronger immune system.

Just as crucial is to eat healthily, with a focus on:

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Lean proteins
Whole grains

Getting seven to nine hours of high-quality sleep each night can also help Zanesville seniors protect themselves from or lower their risks of developing health problems. Adequate sleep is necessary for optimal senior health and well-being because it's during this time that the body heals and recovers (including the immune system).

Keep Shingles Away

The shingles vaccine is an effective tool for preventing shingles. Even if it doesn't stop all cases, it can still help by reducing the severity of the infection and its risk of complications.

Clays Garden Place Assisted Living, our retirement village in Zanesville, OH, supports the use of vaccines to help prevent infectious diseases among older adults. In addition, we provide high-quality personalized care and assisted living wellness programs designed to foster healthy aging. Here, our residents enjoy many amenities and services, from daily physical, social, and recreational activities to nutritious, delicious dining and regular housekeeping.